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By Paul E. Robinson on January 23, 2016
Most of the music on these two new CDs by Louis Lortie And Hélène Mercier is repertoire that the average music-lover will rarely encounter in a lifetime of concert-going. And what a loss! This is glorious music for the most part, that has given me enormous pleasure over the years.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on January 16, 2016
After more than 15 years at the helm, Pinchas Zukerman recently stepped down from his post as music director of the National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC) in Ottawa. Zukerman came to Ottawa as a celebrated solo violinist (and violist) and a part-time conductor of modest reputation. At the time, it was certainly considered a coup for the NAC to contract such a prestigious musician to lead its orchestra, although doubts were expressed about what he might be able to accomplish as a conductor...
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on January 9, 2016
Deutsche grammophon releases debut solo album from Seong-Jin Cho, winner of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on January 1, 2016
Daniil Trifonov burst onto the scene a few seasons back and has quickly become the Superstar du jour. Is he the real thing or just a shooting star whose light will soon fade? Too early to tell. But these two new recordings give ample evidence of who he is now and what he is capable of doing.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on December 11, 2015
This all-French program by the Austin Symphony was planned well over a year before the terrorist outrage of November 13, 2015, in Paris, France. Prefaced by a few well-chosen words from conductors Craig Hella Johnson and Peter Bay and a stirring rendition of La Marseillaise, the concert went ahead as planned on the 21st of November.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on December 9, 2015
CDs make great Christmas gifts and the quality is better than ever. And Canadians – both composers and performers – are well represented among our top recommendations.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on November 25, 2015
Tucson Symphony Orchestra performs a well-planned program, carried off brilliantly by the dynamic maestro Keitaro Harada.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on November 19, 2015
This splendid new recording might well prompt renewed interest in this neglected repertoire. The Tsar’s Bride (1899) contains some of the most beautiful and powerful music that Rimsky-Korsakov ever wrote
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on October 30, 2015
On a recent weekend visit, I attended a Houston Symphony concert led by its charismatic young music director Andrés Orozco-Estrada, took in a rollicking comedy at the newly-renovated Alley Theatre, and spent an enlightening and sobering afternoon with photographer Roman Vishniac at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.
(Continue reading)By Paul E. Robinson on October 21, 2015
Four new chamber music CD's to put on your radar, including Marc-André Hamelin, Ragazze Quartet, Jerusalem Quartet and Daniel Hope.
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